Seed Policy, Legislation and Law

Seed is a major technology transfer vehicle and the efficiency of seed supply systems to cater for the needs of different types of farmers is an issue in agricultural development policies. At the same time, seed is a (potential) commercial product and it is the carrier of valuable genetic resources. Seed policies have concentrated on the commercialisation aspects. More recently, however, the development value of seed for resource-poor farmers and the policies for in-situ conservation of plant genetic resources have created a more diverse interest in seed supply, especially farmers' seed systems and participatory approaches in breeding and seed provision. This creates the need to involve in the seed policy debate, not only conventional seed specialists, but also environmental specialists, (small) business development specialists and social scientists. The governments may take three different positions in the regulation of seed supply chains: competition, cooperation, control. In addition to domestic objectives, seed regulation is influenced more and more by international agreements, such as those on intellectual property, biosafety and business regulations among seed association members.